Snow-in-Summer plant profile
Cerastium tomentosum
A perennial ornamental for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Snow-in-Summer
Snow-in-summer is a low, silvery-leaved groundcover that forms a woolly gray mat and blankets itself in star-shaped white flowers in late spring into June (NC State). Plant or divide in spring or fall in poor, dry, sandy, well-drained soil in full sun; it is short-lived and struggles in the heat and humidity of the deep South, so cooler-summer sites suit it best.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Snow-in-Summer in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6 to 8
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3a to 7bFind my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: short lived, aggressive spreading.
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Cerastium tomentosum (Snow-in-summer, Dusty Miller, Snow Plant)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.